Washing apparatus



Sept 26, 1967 E.l A. TAYLOR, JR 3,343,383

WASHING APPARATUS Filed Deo.

` INVENTOR.

ERNEST A. TAYLOR, JR.

M 'Arromn United States Patent Office 3,343,383 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,383 WASHING APPARATUS Ernest A. Taylor, Jr., Decatur, Ala., assignor to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 605,921 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-181) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 509,749, filed Nov. 26, 1965, for High Velocity Tow Washing Cascade, in the name of Ernest A. Taylor, J r.

This invention relates to washing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for washing a moving tow of synthetic filaments.

In some wet spinning operations the freshly spun synthetic fiber tow is passed through a bath of hot water to remove the residual solvent from the filaments making up the tow. A major disadvantage of this process is that itis inefficient. This inefficiency apparently stems from the fact that circulation of the hot water around and through the moving tow is poor. Apparently, the wash water clings to the tow to form a boundary layer of water which impedes the washing process. Further, in some of the tow washing processes currently used, the wash water is not under pressure but merely fiows down an inclined surface past the tow. These problems are overcome in the present invention by forcing the heated water, at a high velocity, to travel back and forth through the tow from one side to the other to thereby break up Vthe boundary layer and better expose the filaments in the tow to the hot water. Due to the efficiency of this invention in washing the filaments of a'tow, it is not necessary that thewash water be hot, although'the heat does increase the diffusion rate of solvent from the tow to some extent. Completely adequate washing can be obtained with room temperature wa-ter.

One object of this invention is to provide novel and improved aparatus for washing a moving strand.

Anothe object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which thoroughly and efiiciently washes a tow by forcing water back and forth through a tow from one side to the other at a high velocity.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for washing a moving tow wherein the tow moves through a water carrying passage in the apparatus, the passageway having on opposite walls thereof curved deflecting surfaces which sweep the water back and forth through the tow in an efficient manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tow washing aparatus having a chamber through which the tow and water pass, the interior of the chamber having water deflecting surfaces which force 4the water back and forth through the tow in such a manner that the individual filaments in the tow are separated from adjacent filaments -to provide a more efficient washing operation.

One embodiment of the present invention contemplates a tow washer having an inlet stage, an intermediate or washing stage and an outlet stage connected together in series, these stages forming a passageway for the movement of water and a tow to be washed. Water is forced into the inlet stage and through the passageway to wash a thin ribbon of synthetic filaments moving through the passageway. The inner walls of the intermediate or washing stage on opposite side of the tow are formed by a plurality of interconnecting plane and curved surfaces which serve to deflect the heated water back and forth through the moving tow. The surface configuration of the wall on one side of the tow is a mirror image of the surface configuration lof the wall on the other side of the tow, with one of the walls being displaced longitudinally relative to the other. The surface configuration defined by the plane and curved surfaces begins in the inlet stage and extends through the intermediate stage to the outlet stage so that washing actually takes place in all three stages.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away to show the manner in which heated water and a tow move through the apparatus, and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side View of the apparatus showing in greater detail the surface configuration utilized to deflect the water back and forth through the moving tow.

Referring now in detail 'to `the drawing, there is shown a tow washing apparatus 11 having an upper portion 12, a lower portion 13 and side walls 14, the upper and lower portions and the side walls 14 being secured together to form a chamber through which a tow 17 is advanced by pairs of nipped rolls 18 (only the lower rolls are shown). Water from a supply 2()y is forced into the chamber at the midpoint thereof through an orifice 23 in an inlet opening 21 and flows from the orifice 23 through the chamber to outlet openings 22 positioned at the ends of the chamber. The purpose of -the orifice 23 is to distribute the water from the supply 20 to the chamber in a uniform flow across the width of the chamber. Y

As can be seen from the drawing, the tow 17 is in the form of a thin at ribbon of filaments. The width of the opening through Ithe chamber, `through which the tow 17 passes, maybe slightly greater in width than the flattened tow 17. The action of the water on the tow, however, causes it to spread in both the horizontal and vertical directions so that it completely and uniformly fills the area available to it within the washer chamber. The vertical dimension of the opening between the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 is defined by spaced horizontal upper and lower planes 24 and 25, respectively, these planes being spaced apart a distance A. The dimension A is 1.5-15 times the vertical thickness of the tow 17 before it enters the washer. Since the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 are the same in configuration on opposite sides of the inlet 21, only that portion of the apparatus between the inlet 21 and the outlet 22 will be discussed in detail. The term downstream as used herein refers to the direction of travel of the water rather than the direction of travel of the tow 17. It can readily be seen that the tow 17 moving toward the inletl 21 is traveling upstream (against the movement of the water) while that portion of the tow 17 moving away from the inlet 21 is traveling downstream (with the movement of the water) It will be noted that the apparatus is divided into three stages, an inlet stage, an intermediate or washing stage and an outlet stage. Since the water flows back and forth laterally lthrough the tow in each of these stages, washing occurs in each section. The inlet and outlet stages perform the functions of admitting water into and directing water out of the tow washing apparatus 11. While only one intermediate stage is shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that there may be any number of intermediate stages between the inlet stage and the outlet stage. A description of the intermediate stage will be in large measure descriptive of the inlet and outlet stages as well.

In the intermediate stage the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 are provided with surface configurations (facing each other) which deflect the water back and forth laterally through the tow from one side to the other. The intermediate stage of the upper portion 12 is provided with a first fiat surface 30 lying in the upper plane 24 and extending downstream a distance L from the inlet end of the intermediate or washing stage. A second fiat surface 31 on the upper portion 12 extends downstream from the trailing edge (downstream edge) of the first fiat surface 30 and is positioned at an angle 0 relative to the upper plane 24, the second fiat surface having a length M. 20

The upper portion 12 is also provided with a concave cylindrical surface 32 extending laterally thereacross, the cylindrical surface 32 having a radius R. The axis of the cylindrical surface 32 is positioned in the upper plane 24 a distance N from the entrance end of the intermediate stage. The upper portion 12 is also provided with a third fiat surface which is tangent to the cylindrical surface 32 and which extends from the point of tangency upstream and toward the upper plane 24, the third flat surface 33 being positioned at an angle a relative to the upper plane 24. The upper portion 12 is also provided with a convex arcuate surface 34 interconnecting the leading (upstream) end of the third fiat surface 33 and the trailing end of the second fiat surface 31, the curved surface 34 having a radius R'.

The downstream extremity of the cylindrical surface 32 ends in a sharp edge 35 lying in the upper plane 24. The intermediate stage extends from the entrance end thereof downstream to the sharp edge 35. The surface configuration (facing the tow 17) of the lower portion 13 in the intermediate stage is a mirror image of the cross-sectional configuration (taken longitudinally) of the upper portion 12, the lower portion having surfaces 30', 31', 32', 33', 34' and 35' corresponding to the surfaces 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 respectively. It will be noted that the corresponding surfaces on the upper and lower portions are not positioned in vertical alignment (i.e. the cylindrical surface 32 is not directly above the cylindrical surface 32'). The surface configuration in the lower portion 13 is displaced longitudinally (relative to the configuration in the upper portion 12) to an extent that the distance between the sharp edge 35 on the upper portion 12 to the plane of the third flat surface 33' on 5f the lower portion 13 is a distance O. Similarly, the distance between the sharp edge 35' on the lower portion 13 to an extension of the fiat surface 33 on the upper portion 12 is the same distance O.

It has been found that desirable results are achieved when the dimensions described above have the follow- It has further been found that much superior results are achieved when the following preferred ranges are used for the dimensions enumerated above: 7

The downstream end of the inlet stage is identical in configuration to the downstream end of the intermediate stage, with the axis of the cylindrical surface 32 of the inlet stage being a distance P from the center line of the water inlet 21. The dimension P is 0 to 30A and is preferably 6-lOA.

The upstream end of the exit stage is identical in configuration to the upstream end of the intermediate stage. The only difference between these two stages is that the water outlet 22 extends through the lower portion 13 in the outlet stage.

In operation, the tow 17 is advanced through the chamber formed by the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 and the side walls 14 as shown in FIGURE l. Water is forced into the apparatus from the inlet opening 21 through the orifice where it is divided into two more or less equal streams, each of which travels from the upper end of the orifice opening in opposite directions to the outlet openings 22. The surface configuration of the upper and lower portions forces the water to sweep back and forth through the fiat ribbon filaments from one side thereof to the other. The velocity of the Water and the configuration of the upper and lower portions insures that every filament in the tow will be separated from adjacent filaments so that the tow will lbe thoroughly penetrated by the water in only a short distance of travel. Thus, the washing operation is made significantly more efficient. The surface configurations of the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 assure that the Water will follow a roughly sinusoidal path in flowing through the apparatus. Because of the close clearance between the filaments in the tow, the water is quite turbulent in its passage through the tow 17. This contributes to the success of the apparatus.

While this apparatus has been discussed in connection with washing a tow to remove the residual solvent therefrom, it should be understood that the apparatus can also be used for treating tows and other materials with either liquid or gaseous mediums. For example, the apparatus might be used in a fabric dyeing operation.

It is to be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein is merely illustrative and that this embodiment can -be modified or amended and that numerous other embodiments can ybe contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for treating a moving strand; comprising an inlet stage for introducing a treating medium to the apparatus; a treating stage connected to the inlet stage and an outlet stage connected to the treating stage for conducting the treating medium from the apparatus; said treating stage having an upper portion, a lower portion and side walls; said upper and lower portions and side walls forming a chamber through which the treating medium and the strand pass; said chamber having a width slightly greater than the width of said strand; said upper portion extending upward from an upper horizontal plane; said lower portion extending downward from a lower horizontal plane; said planes being spaced apart a distance A; said upper portion having a first flat surface lying in said upper plane and extending downstream from the entrance end of said treating stage a distance L; said upper portion having a second fiat surface connected to the rst flat surface and extending upward and downstream therefrom; said second fiat surface being positoned at an angle 0 to said upper plane; said second at surface extending downstream a distance M; said upper portion also having a concave cylindrical surface extending laterally thereacross; said cylindrical surface having a radius R, the downstream extremity of said cylindrical surface terminating in a sharp edge lying in said upper plane; the axis of said cylindrical surface lying in said upper plane; said axis being spaced downstream from the entrance end of said treating stage a distance N; said upper portion also having a third flat surface tangent to said cylindrical surface and extending upstream at an angle relative to said upper plane; said upper portion also having a convex arcuate surface leading from the downstream end of said second iiat surface to the upstream end of said third flat surface; said arcuate surface being tangent Ito said second and third flat surfaces and having a radius R; wherein A=1.,5-15 times the thickness of the strand L=01OA said lower portion having an upper surface which is a mirror image of the lower surface of the upper portion;

said lower portion having the surface configuration thereof so displaced longitudinally that `the sharp edges at the downstream extremity of the cylindrical surface of the lower portion is positioned a distance O from said third flat surface of said upper portion, where 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet stage is provided with an orifice at the entrance end thereof for rendering uniform the water flow `across the width of the chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS IRVING BUNEVICH. Primarv Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING A MOVING STRAND; COMPRIS ING AN INLET STAGE FOR INTRODUCING A TREATING MEDIUM TO THE APPARATUS; A TREATING STAGE CONNECTED TO THE INLET STAGE AND AN OUTLET STAGE CONNECTED TO THE TREATING STAGE FOR CONDUCTING THE TREATING MEDIUM FROM THE APPARATUS; SAID TREATING STAGE HAVING AN UPPER PORTION, A LOWER PORTION AND SIDE WALLS; SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTION AND SIDE WALLS FORMING A CHAMBER THROUGH WHICH THE TREATING MEDIUM AND THE STRAND PASS; SAID CHAMBER HAVING A WIDTH SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID STRAND; SAID UPPER PORTION EXTENDING UPWARD FROM AN UPPER HORIZONTAL PLANE; SAID LOWER PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM A LOWER HORIZONTAL PLANE; SAID PLANES BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE A; SAID UPPER PORTION HAVING A FIRST FLAT SURFACE LYING IN SAID UPPER PLANE AND EXTENDING DOWNSTREAM FROM THE ENTRANCE END OF SAID TREATING DOWNSTREAM FROM UPPER PORTION HAVING A SECOND FLAT SURFACE CONNECTED TO THE FIRST FLAT SURFACE AND EXTENDING UPWARD AND DOWNSTREAM THEREFROM; SAID SECOND FLAT SURFACE BEING POSITIONED AT AN ANGLE * TO SAID UPPER PLANE; SAID SECOND FLAT SURFACE EXTENDING DOWNSTREAM A DISTANCE M; AND UPPER PORTION ALSO HAVING A CONCAVE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREACROSS; SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE HAVING A RADIUS R, THE DOWNSTREAM EXTREMITY OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE IN A SHARP EDGE LYING IN SAID UPPER PLANE; THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE LYING IN SAID UPPER PLANE; SAID AXIS BEING SPACED DOWNSTREAM FROM THE ENTRANCE END OF SAID TREATING STAGE A DISTANCE N; SAID UPPER PORTION ALSO HAVING A THIRD FLAT SURFACE TANGENT TO SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND EXTENDING UPSTREAM AT AN ANGLE A RELATIVE TO SAID UPPER PLANE; SAID UPPER PORTION ALSO HAVING A CONVEX ARCUATE SURFACE LEADING FROM THE DOWNSTREAM END OF SAID SECOND FLAT SURFACE TO THE UPSTREAM END OF SAID FLAT SURFACE; SAID ARCUAT SURFACE BEING TANGENT TO SAID SECOND AND THIRD FLAT SURFACES AND HAVING A RADIUS R''; WHEREIN 